The Most Reverend William P. Callahan
Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee

Most Reverend William P. Callahan, OFM. Conv, was named an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Pope Benedict XVI on October 30, 2007.

Bishop Callahan, 57 (June 17, 1950), is a Conventual Franciscan of the St. Bonaventure Province in Chicago. A native of Chicago, Callahan has served in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as associate pastor of the Basilica of St. Josaphat Parish, from 1977 to 1978, and, again, as rector and pastor of St. Josaphat Parish, from 1994 to 2005. Callahan left the parish in 2005 and served as Spiritual Director for the Pontifical North American College, the seminary for Americans, in Rome until December 14, 2007.

Callahan was ordained to the priesthood on April 30, 1977, by Milwaukee Archbishop William E. Cousins. In addition to serving as associate pastor of St. Josaphat, Callahan served as the Director of Vocations for the Conventual Franciscans, from 1978 to 1984; as Associate Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Peoria, Ill., from 1984 to 1987; and as Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Peoria, from 1987-1994.

He attended St. Mary Minor Seminary in Crystal Lake, Ill, and studied at Junior College in Chicago, before being accepted in the Novitiate of St. Bonaventure at Lake Forest, Ill., where he continued his formation from 1969 to 1970. From 1970 to 1973, he studied at Loyola University in Chicago, earning a bachelor's degree in Radio and Television Communications. He earned his Master's of Divinity degree from St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto in 1976.

The youngest of four children, Callahan has two older sisters and one older brother. His parents, Ellen and William Callahan, are deceased.

Auxiliary Bishops serve the Church by helping a diocesan bishop in the pastoral and spiritual leadership of a diocese. They assist the diocesan bishop in his role as shepherd -- teaching, leading, serving and celebrating the sacraments with the people of the diocese.

The religious order of Conventuals are members of the Franciscan Order, who were granted approval from the Church in 1223 and possess and use property in common. They are commonly called Black Franciscans because of the black friar habits they wear.

Updated: December 2007